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In my piece a few weeks ago about reliable source to trust in Bobby Hurley news, I didn't include Jeff Goodman of ESPN. Since then, however, he hasn't been wrong with anything. Minutes ago, Goodman reported that Buffalo has quickly dropped the interim tag from former Assistant Coach Nate Oats and given him the top job "on a permanent basis."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Buffalo has hired assistant Nate Oats to replace Bobby Hurley, sources told ESPN.</p>— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/586908064248438784">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Buffalo has majority returning from NCAA tournament team. Oats keeps the team intact and can also coach.</p>— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoodmanESPN/status/586908575374700544">April 11, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Oats has been with Buffalo for two years, his only two in Division I, though he did coach in Division III for a stretch before his dominant 11-season run at Detroit-area Romulus High. In that stretch the Eagles were 222-52, advanced to the state Final Four five times, winning one championship, and finished three seasons in the top 25 nationally.
As an assistant in Buffalo Oats worked alongside Hurley with the guards, but also served as the team's recruiting coordinator. Given the influx of talent from Romulus, the Detroit area, and the Great Lakes in general, most of UB's team has already been built on the #NateOatsPipeline, and it became clear quickly in the last two days that Oats was the best choice to minimize defections.
On a more UB-minded scale, this hire is one that simply made sense, like the Shawn Burke move that led to a MAC Championship in a single season, or the Danny Barrett hire that wasn't.
We'll have more, as we always do. For now, a huge congratulations to Coach Oats - it's well-deserved - and best of luck with this team moving forward.
Go Bulls